Enticed’s G1 Champagne challenge

Exciting two-year-old colt Enticed steps up to G1 level in the Champagne Stakes over a mile on dirt at Belmont Park, USA, on Saturday, October 7. 

The son of Medaglia d’Oro, who is out of Godolphin’s three-time G1 heroine It’s Tricky, stayed on powerfully to win a six-furlong maiden going away by a length and three quarters on his debut at Saratoga on September 4. 

Junior Alvarado again partners the Kiaran McLaughlin-trained runner, who faces 11 other juveniles form stall four including G1 Hopeful Stakes fourth Firenze Fire, unbeaten non-graded winner Aveenu Malcainu and Saratoga maiden scorer Hazit. 

Kiaran McLaughlin said: “It is a big step up from a maiden to G1, but there are not too many other suitable races to run in and Enticed is a colt that we like. 

“We will see how he goes and will be very happy if he finishes in the first three.”

On the same card, Lucullan (Kiaran McLaughlin/Kendrick Carmouche) makes his Pattern debut in the G3 Hill Prince Stakes over nine furlongs on turf, the furthest he has tackled to date.

The three-year-old colt has won two of his three starts since switching to grass this year and gained a comfortable two-length victory in mile allowance race at Belmont Park on September 10.

Kiaran McLaughlin added: “Lucullan won impressively last time and likes the turf course at Belmont Park. 

“We had the option of running him against older horses in another allowance race, but want to give him a try at this level against his own age.

“It’s a very strong G3, but this race will tell us where we stand with Lucullan.”

There are nine runners in the Hill Prince Stakes, led by G2 winners Frostmourne and Bricks And Mortar.